The Salmonella outbreak linked to Jem brand nut butters has ended after sickening 13 people in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A recall was issued for the products which were linked to illnesses from July 2015 to November 2015.
Because these products have long shelf lives, the CDC encourages consumers to check recall information. If you have any of these recalled products in your home, throw them away; do not use them.
The CDC worked with state health officials and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+) infections. The unusually named strain, which used to be known as Salmonella Java, does not cause paratyphoid fever, enteric fever, or typhoid … [Read more...]

The ninth-largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2015 was a Salmonella outbreak linked to JEM nut butters. Eleven people in nine states were sickened by the raw nut butter spreads, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There were three cases in Oregon. California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina and New Jersey each reported one case.
During interviews with public health investigators. Six people specifically mentioned mentioned eating JEM brand raw sprouted nut butter spreads before they became ill.
The outbreak strain, Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+), formerly known as Salmonella Java, does not cause paratyphoid fever, enteric fever, or typhoid fever. But it does causes illness with symptoms including … [Read more...]

The Salmonella outbreak linked to JEM raw brand sprouted nut butter spreads has sickened at least 11 people in 9 states. This is not the first time nut butters have caused illness. Why are these products, which are relatively low in moisture and not usually considered a food safety risk, harboring pathogenic bacteria?
According to the University of California-Davis, tree nuts can be a vehicle for foodborne pathogens. The tree nuts are too dry to support the growth of bacteria, but Salmonella and E. coli bacteria cause illness with only a few present. Tree nut handlers are supposed to consider Salmonella and STEC bacteria a major public health risk in their HACCP plans.
Any raw food is a risk for bacteria, whether it's raw nuts, poultry, beef, seafood, or produce. Contamination can … [Read more...]

A Salmonella outbreak linked to JEM brand nut butters has sickened 11 people in nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Illnesses associated with this outbreak, which was announced by the agency today, were reported from June through October. Three of the cases are in Oregon. California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina and New Jersey have each reported one case.
The outbreak strain, Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+), was formerly known as Salmonella Java. Like other Salmonella strains, it causes symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps which usually set in six to 72 hours after exposure and last about a week. Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+) does not cause paratyphoid fever, … [Read more...]

JEM Raw Chocolate of Oregon is recalling its entire line of sprouted nut butter spreads because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, according to the CDC. There is an outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate (+) infections linked to these products. At least 11 people in 9 states have been sickened so far.
There have been no hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. Those sickened live in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Oregon.
All eight of the ill persons interviewed so far ate nut butter or a nut butter spread the week before they got sick. Six of those people specifically reported eating JEM Raw brand sprouted nut butter spread before their illness manifested.
These spreads have a … [Read more...]